Thermal flask

ABSTRACT

A thermal flask includes a cylindrical body extending in an axial direction. The body includes a top face having an opening. A base is fixed on the top face of the body and surrounds the opening. The base is annular and includes a plurality of threaded sections. An engaging unit is integrally formed with the base. An upper lid is mounted on top of the body and includes a plurality of threaded sections in threading engagement with the threaded sections of the base. The upper lid includes a peripheral wall extending in the axial direction. The peripheral wall includes an engagement hole aligned with the engaging unit. The upper lid is coupled to the body, with the engaging unit releasably engaged with the engagement hole. The engaging unit is disengaged from the engagement hole when the engaging unit is pressed, allowing detachment of the upper lid from the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a thermal flask and, more particularly, to a thermal flask that can easily be detached for cleaning and replacement while improving hygiene, operational convenience, and engaging stability.

Conventional thermal flasks generally include a cylindrical body, an upper lid fixed to the body, and components (such as washers, a vacuum vessel, etc) mounted between the body and the lid or in the body. However, the upper lid can not be detached from the body for cleaning purposes, such that dirt is apt be accumulated in the thermal flask, leading to generation of bacteria and impossibility of replacement of worn or damaged components.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,471 discloses a thermal pot including a barrel member and a neck member in threading connection with the barrel member. After engagement between the barrel member and the neck member, a fastening screw is extended through holes in the barrel member and the neck member for fixing purposes while allowing detachment of the neck. However, a tool is required for detachment, leading to inconvenience. Namely, an ordinary user can not proceed with the detachment without tools.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a thermal flask allowing easy detachment and replacement while providing improved hygiene, operational convenience, and engaging stability.

A thermal flask according to the present invention includes a cylindrical body extending in an axial direction. The body includes a top face having an opening. A base is fixed on the top face of the body and surrounds the opening. The base is annular and includes a plurality of threaded sections. An engaging unit is integrally formed with the base. An upper lid is mounted on top of the body and includes a plurality of threaded sections in threading engagement with the plurality of threaded sections of the base. The upper lid includes a peripheral wall extending in the axial direction. The peripheral wall includes an engagement hole aligned with the engaging unit. The upper lid is coupled to the body, with the engaging unit releasably engaged with the engagement hole. The engaging unit is disengaged from the engagement hole when the engaging unit is pressed, allowing detachment of the upper lid from the body.

The engaging unit includes a resilient plate integrally extending radially outward from the base and extending in the axial direction. The resilient plate includes an outer face having an engagement block formed thereon. The engagement block is releasably engaged with the engagement hole of the upper lid.

The threaded sections of the base are formed on an outer periphery of the base, with a spacing formed between two adjacent threaded sections of the base. The upper lid includes a bottom side having an integrally formed annular wall. The threaded sections of the upper lid are formed on an inner periphery of the annular wall of the upper lid, with a gap formed between two adjacent threaded sections of the upper lid.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a thermal flask according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, perspective view of the thermal flask FIG. 1, with a base assembled with a cylindrical body, and with the upper lid detached.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the thermal flask according to the present invention after assembly.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the thermal flask according to the present invention, with portions cross sectioned.

FIG. 5 shows a partial, side view of the thermal flask according to the present invention, with portions cross sectioned.

FIG. 6 shows a top view similar to FIG. 4, with an engagement block of the upper lid pressed inward.

FIG. 7 shows a top view similar to FIG. 6, with the upper lid rotated through an angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, thermal flask 1 according to the present invention includes a cylindrical body 10 extending in an axial direction. The body 10 includes a top face having an opening 11. A plurality of fixing seats 12 is provided around the opening 11.

An annular base 20 includes a plurality of through-holes 21 aligned with the fixing seats 12 of the body 10. Bolts 22 can be extended through through-holes 21 into the fixing seats 12. A plurality of threaded sections 23 is provided on an outer periphery of the base 20. A spacing 231 is formed between two adjacent threaded sections 23. An engaging unit 24 is integrally formed with the base 20. Specifically, a resilient plate 241 extends radially outward from the base 20 and extends along the axial direction. An engagement block 242 is formed on an outer face of the resilient plate 241.

An upper lid 30 is mounted on top of the body 10. The upper lid 30 includes an peripheral wall 31 extending in the axial direction. The upper lid 30 includes a bottom side having an integrally formed annular wall 32. A plurality threaded sections 33 is formed on an inner periphery of the annular wall 32 for threading engagement with the threaded sections 23 of the base 20. A gap 331 is formed between two adjacent threaded sections 33. An engagement hole 311 is formed in the peripheral wall 31 of the upper lid 30 and aligned with the engaging unit 24.

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, in assembly, the base 20 is fixed on the top face of the body 10 and surrounds the opening 11, with the through-holes 21 of the base 20 aligned with the fixing seats 12 of the body 10. Bolts 22 are extended through the through-holes 21 into the fixing seats 12 to fix the base 20 to the body 10. In this case, the engagement block 242 of the resilient plate 241 extends upward beyond the top face of the body 10. Then, the upper lid 30 is mounted to the body 10. The resilient plate 241 of the base 20 is located inside of the upper lid 30 and slightly inclined inward (see FIG. 7). The engagement block 242 abuts against the inner periphery of the annular wall 31 of the upper lid 30. When the threaded sections 33 of the upper lid 30 are located below the spacings 232 of the threaded sections 23 of the base 20, the upper lid 30 is rotated until the engagement hole 30 is aligned with the engagement block 242 of the base 20. At this time, the resilient block 242 snaps into the engagement hole 311 when the resilient plate 241 returns to its initial position.

For detachment, the engagement block 242 is pressed to slightly deform the resilient plate 241 while disengaging the engagement block 242 from the engagement hole 311 of the upper lid 311, as shown in FIG. 6. Then, the upper lid 30 is rotated to a position where the threaded sections 33 of the upper lid 30 are aligned with the spacings 231 of the threaded sections 23 of the base 20. Then, the upper lid 30 can be removed from the body 10 for cleaning and replacement of components.

By providing the engagement of the engaging unit 24 of the base 20 and the engagement hole 311 of the upper lid 30 as well as threading engagement between the threaded sections 23 and 33, the base 20 and the upper lid 30 can easily be assembled and detached without any tools, significantly improving operational convenience. Thus, an ordinary user can detach the thermal flask according to the present invention for cleaning and replacement of components, providing enhanced hygiene.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims. 

1. A thermal flask comprising: a cylindrical body extending in an axial direction, with the body including a top face having an opening; a base fixed on the top face of the body and surrounding the opening, with the base being annular and including a plurality of threaded sections, with an engaging unit integrally formed with the base; and an upper lid mounted on top of the body, with the upper lid including a plurality of threaded sections in threading engagement with the plurality of threaded sections of the base, with the upper lid including a peripheral wall extending in the axial direction, with the peripheral wall including an engagement hole aligned with the engaging unit, with the upper lid coupled to the body, with the engaging unit releasably engaged with the engagement hole, with the engaging unit being disengaged from the engagement hole when the engaging unit is pressed, allowing detachment of the upper lid from the body.
 2. The thermal flask as claimed in claim 1, with the engaging unit including a resilient plate integrally extending radially outward from the base and extending in the axial direction, with the resilient plate including an outer face, with an engagement block formed on the outer face of the resilient plate, with the engagement block releasably engaged with the engagement hole of the upper lid.
 3. The thermal flask as claimed in claim 1, with the plurality of threaded sections of the base being formed on an outer periphery of the base, with a spacing formed between two adjacent threaded sections of the base, with the upper lid including a bottom side having an integrally formed annular wall, with the plurality of threaded sections of the upper lid formed on an inner periphery of the annular wall of the upper lid, with a gap formed between two adjacent threaded sections of the upper lid.
 4. The thermal flask as claimed in claim 1, with the base fixed by bolts to the top face of the body. 